Material processing apparatus with hybrid power system

Abstract

A material processing apparatus has as a power supply system comprising an electrical power supply and a hydraulic power supply. The electrical power supply comprises a battery pack and an electrical generator. The power supply system is operable in different power supply modes in which said at least one battery and/or said electrical generator supply electrical power to the electrically powered components of the system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A material processing apparatus comprising a power supply system, the power supply system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine; 
 an electrical system comprising an electrical power supply configured to supply electrical power to at least one electrically powered component; 
 an electrical power inlet for receiving electrical power from an external electrical power supply; 
 a material processing unit that is operable in a working state only by one or more of said at least one electrically powered component; 
 a hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic power supply configured to supply hydraulic power at least one hydraulically powered component; 
 at least one controller for controlling the operation of said power supply system, 
 wherein said electrical power supply comprises at least one battery and an electrical generator, and wherein said internal combustion engine is mechanically coupled to said electrical generator in order to drive said electrical generator, 
 and wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate said power supply system in any one of at least two power supply modes in at least one of which said at least one battery and/or said electrical generator supply electrical power to said at least one electrically powered component, 
 and wherein in at least one of said modes said internal combustion engine is switched off and said one or more of said at least one electrically powered component is powered by said at least one battery and/or by said external electrical power supply via said electrical power inlet to operate said material processing unit in said working state. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said material processing unit comprises a screening apparatus. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical generator is a motor-generator, and wherein said motor-generator is configured to operate as a generator and to supply electrical power to said electrical system, or wherein said motor-generator is configured to operate as a motor and receives electrical power from said electrical system. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic power supply comprises an electrically powered pump, and wherein power supply system is configured to supply electrical power to said pump from said at least one battery and/or from said electrical generator, or wherein said electrical generator is a motor-generator, and said hydraulic power supply comprises a mechanically powered pump, said motor-generator being mechanically coupled to said pump to enable transmission of mechanical power from said motor-generator to said pump. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply system is operable in at least one mode in which only said at least one battery supplies electrical power to said at least one electrically powered component. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said electrical generator is a motor-generator, and wherein said at least one battery supplies electrical power to operate said motor-generator as a motor, said motor-generator providing mechanical power to the hydraulic pump, or wherein said hydraulic power supply comprises an electrically powered pump, and wherein said at least one battery supplies electrical power to said electrically powered pump. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one controller causes said power supply system to supply said electrical power from said generator, as well as or instead of said from said at least one battery depending on the level of electrical power available from said at least one battery, and/or on the level of load requiring electrical power. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply system is operable in at least one mode in which only said generator supplies electrical power to said at least one electrically powered component. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hydraulic power supply comprises an electrically powered pump, and wherein said generator supplies electrical power to said electrically powered pump, or wherein said hydraulic power supply comprises a mechanically powered pump and wherein mechanical power is transmitted to said pump from said internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one controller causes said power supply system to supply said electrical power from said at least one battery as well as from said generator depending on the level of load requiring electrical power. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said motor-generator is configured to produce mechanical power supplementing the mechanical power produced by the engine and transmitted to the pump, and wherein said at least one controller is configured to cause said motor-generator to operate as a motor depending on the power required by the hydraulic system. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrically powered component comprises any one or more of: a screen drive; a feeder drive; one or more conveyor drives, wherein the or each drive may comprise one or more electric motor; and/or wherein said at least one hydraulically powered component comprises any one or more of an articulation system comprising at least one hydraulic actuator and/or hydraulic motor; and/or wheel or track drive means comprising one or more hydraulic motor. 
     
     
       13. A power supply system comprising:
 an electrical system comprising an electrical power supply configured to supply electrical power to at least one electrically powered component; 
 a hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic power supply configured to supply hydraulic power at least one hydraulically powered component; 
 at least one controller for controlling the operation of said power supply system, 
 wherein said electrical power supply comprises at least one battery and an electrical generator, 
 and wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate said power supply system in at least one mode in which said at least one battery and/or said electrical generator supply electrical power to said at least one electrically powered component, 
 and wherein said electrical generator is a motor-generator, and said hydraulic power supply comprises a mechanically powered pump, said motor-generator being mechanically coupled to said pump by a mechanical coupling that is configurable to transmit mechanical power from said motor-generator to said pump, said mechanical coupling also being configurable to prevent mechanical power from being transmitted from said motor-generator to said pump. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein said power supply system is operable in at least one mode in which said at least one battery supplies electrical power to said at least one electrically powered component, and/or wherein said power supply system includes an electrical inlet for receiving electrical power from an external power supply and wherein said power supply system is operable in at least one mode in which electrical power is supplied to said at least one electrically powered component from said external power supply, and wherein, in said at least one mode, said mechanical coupling is configured to prevent transmission of mechanical power from said motor-generator to said pump. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein said motor-generator is mechanically coupled to said pump by a clutch that is operable to selectively transmit or not transmit mechanical power to said pump. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate said power supply system in at least one mode in which said motor-generator operates as a motor and in which mechanical power is transmitted from said motor-generator to said mechanically powered pump, and wherein said motor-generator receives electrical power from said electrical system. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , further including an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to said electrical generator in order to drive said electrical generator, and wherein in said at least one mode the internal combustion engine is switched off. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 14 , further including an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to said electrical generator in order to drive said electrical generator, and wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate said power supply system in at least one mode in which mechanical power produced by said internal combustion engine is transmitted to said pump via said motor-generator. 
     
     
       19. A material processing apparatus comprising a power supply system, the power supply system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine; 
 an electrical system comprising an electrical power supply configured to supply electrical power to at least one electrically powered component; 
 an electrical power inlet for receiving electrical power from an external electrical power supply; 
 a material processing unit that is operable in a working state only by one or more of said at least one electrically powered component; 
 a hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic power supply configured to supply hydraulic power at least one hydraulically powered component; 
 at least one controller for controlling the operation of said power supply system, 
 wherein said electrical power supply comprises at least one battery and an electrical generator, and wherein said internal combustion engine is mechanically coupled to said electrical generator in order to drive said electrical generator, 
 and wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate said power supply system in at least one mode in which said at least one battery and/or said electrical generator supply electrical power to said at least one electrically powered component, 
 and wherein said electrical generator is a motor-generator, and said hydraulic power supply comprises a mechanically powered pump, said motor-generator being mechanically coupled to said pump by a mechanical coupling that is configurable to transmit mechanical power from said motor-generator to said pump, said mechanical coupling also being configurable to prevent mechanical power from being transmitted from said motor-generator to said pump 
 and wherein in at least one of said at least one mode said internal combustion engine is switched off and said one or more of said at least one electrically powered component is powered by said at least one battery and/or by said external electrical power supply via said electrical power inlet to operate said material processing unit in said working state, and wherein in said at least one of said at least one mode said mechanical coupling is configured to prevent transmission of mechanical power from said motor-generator to said pump.